At least 16 injured in Queens fire

8 of the injured residents are children; 4 firefighters also treated for injuries

April 22, 2008 8:24:05 PM PDT

FAR ROCKAWAY --

A fast-moving second-alarm house fire in Far Rockaway, Queens, injured 16 residents -- eight of them children. Eyewitness News has learned the fire tore through a large house at 2259 Loretta Road just before 4:45 a.m. this morning. Firefighters declared a second-alarm on arrival after being greeted by heavy flames throughout the three-story building.

Most of the residents reportedly escaped the burning building when firefighters learned there was one child still inside. They went in and rushed that child to safety.

Police say some 16 residents -- eight of them children -- were being treated at the scene. None had life-threatening injuries.

Most of the injured went to St John's Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway. The remaining three adults and two children were taken to Peninsula Hospital. Four firefighters were also treated, according to officials.

The address was the site of a October 1999 blaze where firefighters aggressively battled heavy flames.